Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1887-01-21
agricultural.
DISEASES AMONG CATTLE.

State Farmers Convention recently in
session in Baltimore
Pleuro pneumonia seems to have its
permanent habitation in Southern Rus
sia, whence it found its way into conti-
mental Europe and thence into Hol-
land, and thence to America, where it
has gradually spread until now the
whole Atlantic coast, from Connecticut
to Southern Virginia, is contaminated.
There can be no doubt, the report says,
that, had the national government, in
whose hands the exclusive control of
foreign commerce is placed, adopted in
proper time, proper quarantine regula-
tons against such countries as we're
known to be infected, the disease would
never have found Judgment in this
country, and for this reason there can
be no doubt that the duty to extirpate
the disease is on the national govern
ment, particularly as in some States it
has grown to such dimensions as to be
beyond the control Of the States The
disease until recently had been confined
to the Atlantic coast. but on more than
one occasion it has broken out in the
West. In Chicago it has recently as
sumed alarming proportions 1t is al
legged that the outbreaks West are due
to cattle shippc1~frcn Maryland, whose
reputation has assumed such evil pro-
portions that it is impossible to send
Maryland cattle into any State west of
the Ohio river, owing to quarantine reg
ulations against the State, while private
buyers in other States will not purchase
from Maryland. There are now over 300
Maryland stables in quarantine, and the
disease doubtless exists in many more
not yet discovered. The disease how
ever, is unknown except in Baltimore
city and county and Carroll and Prince
Georges counties A large heard in
Howard county was affected last August,
but it was slaughtered and the trouble
wiped out. A Thorough recent inspec-
ton of the Eastern Shore failed to fud
any evidence that the disease had ever
been on the Peninsula, Though many
Eastern Shore butchers buy from The
State stock-yards, section long infect
cd. The losses by hog cholera 10 Nary
land for several years past have exceeded
half million dollars per annum. But
little CHAMBERS in the horses has been
found in the State, and on this subject
the committee does not think the gov
eminent obliged to protect the citizens
from diseases indigenous to the country.
The chicken cholera has also entai led
great loss on the agriculturists
One of the greatest hindrances to the
effective enforcement of the law, the re.
port says, is the habit Of conceaing
practiced by cattle owners and the hab-
it Of selling surreptitiously to uuscrupu-
lous butchers diseased animals, each of
which was practiced to a great extent in
Baltimore. The appointment of the
sanitary board under the act Of 1886 was
referred to, and the report says that their
system of quarantine, inexpensive and
efficient, has received the commentator
Of the commissioner of agriculture This
consists of a small paddock and chain
placed around the horns or neck of each
exposed animal, the key kept by the
board, so as 10 prevent spiriting away
of diseased animals or substitutions, and
making violations of quarantine extreme
ly hazardous. Fully 5000 cattle have
been locked for at least ninety days each,
and there has GOT been single violation
of law. A recent report of the commits
sioner Of agriculture shows that Mary
land is the only State which has lived
up to its agreement with the agricul-
tural department in its cooperation for
stamping out the disease. Since August
disagreement has kept seven inspec-
tors in Maryland. In the same time
there were killed 479 animals at cost
of SOL a piece. Of these the gov
eminent killed 1855, at an average cost
of $22.46, and the State 1874, at an
average cost of $13.43. There we're
566 stables inspected, containing 5,107
cattle, exclusive of inspections at the
stock-yards. Of the inspections, III
were found to be infected. The amount
spent by the government in Maryland
since August was 1926, 900. The
State has also caused the slaughter of
two horses affected with CHAMBERS. The
report recommends u plan of co-opera-
ton between the National and State
governments. by which the commerce
between the States is left to the control
of the general government, and the To-
cal quarantine measures and the penal.
ties, the condemning of private property
for public use and fixing the value
thereof. are left to the States. BIZ this
plan citizen charged with violating a
law be does not understand need not be
carried with his witnesses a hundred
Xniles before United States commits
sioner. but may have hearing before
justice Of the peace 10 his own county
and there tried. The committee fear,
however, that the plan is about to be
abandoned, the commissioner of agri-
culture having reported that it was
failure. no State but Maryland having
co-operated with him II the disease
Of .pleuro-pneumonia once gets LODGE
ment in the great unfenced pastures Of
the West it will never be eradicated,
but will destroy untold wealth aud make
meat on the poor mans table thing of
the past This threatened damage to
the meat supply seems to be appreciated
by the present Congress, and it is likely to
adopted some heroic measures at the
present session.
The pending bill provides for COM
mission of three, clothed with extraor-
binary powers. Maryland, by reason
Of her condition and on account Of her
honest efforts to eradicate the disease,
should be represented on that commits
sion. The report, therefore, recon-
mends that committee of three, with
the chair as one, be appointed to wait on
President Cleveland and urge him to
appoint one of the commissioners from
Maryland, should the bill pass. The
failure Of Congress to act at this time
nrohahlv naans tho daetrret;on &c n